An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software

resources and provides common services for computer programs.

Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include
accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, printing, and other
resources.

For hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation, the operating system acts
as an intermediary between programs and the computer hardware,[1][2] although the application
code is usually executed directly by the hardware and frequently makes system calls to an OS
function or is interrupted by it. Operating systems are found on many devices that contain a
computer – from cellular phones and video game consoles to web servers and supercomputers.

Single- and multi-tasking

A single-tasking system can only run one program at a time, while a multi-tasking operating system
allows more than one program to be running in concurrency. This is achieved by time-sharing,
dividing the available processor time between multiple processes that are each interrupted
repeatedly in time slices by a task-scheduling subsystem of the operating system. Multi-tasking may
be characterized in preemptive and co-operative types. In preemptive multitasking, the operating
system slices the CPU time and dedicates a slot to each of the programs. Unix-like operating
systems, e.g., Solaris, Linux, as well as AmigaOS support preemptive multitasking. Cooperative
multitasking is achieved by relying on each process to provide time to the other processes in a
defined manner. 16-bit versions of Microsoft Windows used cooperative multi-tasking. 32-bit
versions of both Windows NT and Win9x, used preemptive multi-tasking.

Single- and multi-user

Single-user operating systems have no facilities to distinguish users, but may allow multiple
programs to run in tandem.[6] A multi-user operating system extends the basic concept of multi-
tasking with facilities that identify processes and resources, such as disk space, belonging to multiple
users, and the system permits multiple users to interact with the system at the same time. Time-
sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include
accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, printing, and other
resources to multiple users.

Distributed

A distributed operating system manages a group of distinct computers and makes them appear to be
a single computer. The development of networked computers that could be linked and
communicate with each other gave rise to distributed computing. Distributed computations are
carried out on more than one machine. When computers in a group work in cooperation, they form
a distributed system.[7]
Templated

In an OS, distributed and cloud computing context, templating refers to creating a single virtual
machine image as a guest operating system, then saving it as a tool for multiple running virtual
machines. The technique is used both in virtualization and cloud computing management, and is
common in large server warehouses.[8]

Embedded

Embedded operating systems are designed to be used in embedded computer systems. They are
designed to operate on small machines like PDAs with less autonomy. They are able to operate with
a limited number of resources. They are very compact and extremely efficient by design. Windows
CE and Minix 3 are some examples of embedded operating systems.

Real-time

A real-time operating system is an operating system that guarantees to process events or data by a
specific moment in time. A real-time operating system may be single- or multi-tasking, but when
multitasking, it uses specialized scheduling algorithms so that a deterministic nature of behavior is
achieved. An event-driven system switches between tasks based on their priorities or external
events while time-sharing operating systems switch tasks based on clock interrupts

Library

A library operating system is one in which the services that a typical operating system provides, such
as networking, are provided in the form of libraries and composed with the application and
configuration code to construct a unikernel: a specialized, single address space, machine image that
can be deployed to cloud or embedded environments.

Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel and designed
primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. In addition, Google has
further developed Android TV for televisions, Android Auto for cars, and Android Wear for wrist
watches, each with a specialized user interface. Variants of Android are also used on game consoles,
digital cameras, PCs and other electronics.

Android

Android 8.1 Oreo home screen

Developer

Google
Open Handset Alliance

Written in Java (UI), C (core), C++ and more[1]

OS family Unix-like

Working state Current

Source model Open source and in most devices with proprietary components

Initial release September 23, 2008; 9 years ago[2]

Latest release 8.1.0 "Oreo" / December 5, 2017; 27 days ago

Marketing target Smartphones, tablet computers, Android TV, Android Auto and Android
Wear

Available in 100+ languages[3]

Package manager APK (primarily through Google Play; installation of APKs also possible locally
or from alternative sources such as F-Droid)

Platforms 32- and 64-bit ARM, x86, x86-64, MIPS and MIPS64

Kernel type Monolithic (modified Linux kernel)

Userland Bionic libc,[4] mksh shell,[5] Toybox as core utilities beginning with Android
6.0,[6][7] previously native core utilities with a few from NetBSD[8][9]

Default user interface Graphical (multi-touch)

License Apache License 2.0

GNU GPL v2 for the Linux kernel modifications[10]

Official website android.com